[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2967 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2967
To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and
policy for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2021
Mr. Case (for himself, Mr. Young, Mr. Bera, and Mr. Sherman) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and
Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and
policy for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Boosting Long-term
U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act'' or the ``BLUE Pacific Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Authority to consolidate reports; form of reports.
TITLE I--UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT AND COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME
Sec. 101. Diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 102. International Law Enforcement Academy for the Pacific
Islands.
Sec. 103. Security assistance for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 104. Countering transnational crime.
Sec. 105. Coordination with regional allies.
TITLE II--DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
Sec. 201. Trade development with the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 202. Trade capacity building initiative for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 203. Emergency preparedness initiative for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 204. Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 205. Public health in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 206. Education assistance.
Sec. 207. Climate resilient development in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 208. Coordination with other Federal agencies and cooperation and
participation of nongovernmental United
States entities.
TITLE III--PROMOTION OF SHARED VALUES
Sec. 301. Press freedom in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 302. U.S. Agency For Global Media.
Sec. 303. Gender equality.
Sec. 304. Pacific Islands Leadership Development Initiative.
Sec. 305. Civil society engagement and development.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Pacific Islands--
(A) are home to roughly 10 million residents,
including over 8.6 million in Papua New Guinea,
constituting diverse and dynamic cultures and peoples;
(B) are spread across an expanse of the Pacific
Ocean equivalent to 15 percent of the Earth's surface,
including the three sub-regions of Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia; and
(C) face shared challenges in development that have
distinct local contexts, including climate change and
rising sea levels, geographic distances from major
markets, and vulnerability to external shocks such as
natural disasters.
(2) The United States is a Pacific country with
longstanding ties and shared values and interests with the
Pacific Islands, including through the Compacts of Free
Association with the Freely Associated States, the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and
the Republic of Palau.
(3) The United States has vital national security interests
in the Pacific Islands, including--
(A) protecting regional peace and security that
fully respects the sovereignty of all nations;
(B) advancing economic prosperity free from
coercion through trade and sustainable development; and
(C) supporting democracy, good governance, the rule
of law, and human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(4) Successive United States administrations have
recognized the importance of the Pacific region, including the
Pacific Islands, in high-level strategic documents, including
the following:
(A) The 2015 National Security Strategy, which
first declared the rebalance to Asia and the Pacific,
affirmed the United States as a Pacific nation, and
paved the way for subsequent United States engagement
with the Pacific Islands, including several new
policies focused on conservation and resilience to
climate change announced in September 2016.
(B) The 2017 National Security Strategy, which
includes a commitment to ``shore up fragile partner
states in the Pacific Islands region to reduce their
vulnerability to economic fluctuations and natural
disasters''.
(C) The 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, which
identified the Pacific Islands as ``critical to U.S.
strategy because of our shared values, interests, and
commitments'' and committed the United States to
``building capacity and resilience to address maritime
security; Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing;
drug trafficking; and resilience to address climate
change and disaster response''.
(5) The United States has deepened its diplomatic
engagement with the Pacific Islands through several recent
initiatives, including--
(A) the Pacific Pledge, which provided an
additional $100,000,000 in 2019 and $200,000,000 in
2020, on top of the approximately $350,000,000 that the
United States provides annually to the region to
support shared priorities in economic and human
development, climate change, and more; and
(B) the Small and Less Populous Island Economies
(SALPIE) Initiative launched in March 2021 to
strengthen United States collaboration with island
countries and territories, including in the Pacific
Islands, on COVID-19 economic challenges, long-term
economic development, climate change, and other shared
interests.
(6) The Boe Declaration on Regional Security, signed by
leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2018, affirmed that
climate change ``remains the single greatest threat to the
livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of the peoples of the
Pacific'' and asserted ``the sovereign right of every Member to
conduct its national affairs free of external interference and
coercion''.
(7) The Asian Development Bank has estimated that the
Pacific Islands region needs upwards of $2.8 billion a year in
investment needs through 2030, in addition to $300 million a
year for climate mitigation and adaptation over the same
period.
(8) The Pacific Islands swiftly enacted effective policies
to prevent and contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease
2019 (commonly referred to as ``COVID-19'') pandemic to their
populations. The United States has provided over $130,000,000
in assistance to the Pacific Islands for their COVID-19
response. However, priorities must be met to ensure continued
success in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,
achieving swift and widespread vaccinations, and pursuing long-
term economic recovery in the Pacific Islands, including
through--
(A) expanding testing capacity and acquisition of
needed medical supplies, including available COVID-19
vaccines and supporting vaccination efforts, through a
reliable supply chain;
(B) planning for lifting of lockdowns and reopening
of economic and social activities; and
(C) mitigating and recovering from the impacts of
the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system and the
reliance on food and energy imports as well as lost
tourism revenue and other economic and food security
damages caused by the pandemic.
(9) Since 1966, thousands of Peace Corps volunteers have
proudly served in the Pacific Islands, building strong people-
to-people relationships and demonstrating the United States
commitment to peace and development in the region. Prior to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained presence in four
countries of the Pacific Islands. Peace Corps volunteers
continue to be in high demand in the Pacific Islands and have
been requested across the region.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to develop and commit to a comprehensive, multifaceted,
and principled United States policy in the Pacific Islands
that--
(A) promotes peace, security, and prosperity for
all countries through a rules-based regional order that
respects the sovereignty and political independence of
all nations;
(B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as an open and
vibrant corridor for international maritime trade and
promotes trade and sustainable development that
supports inclusive economic growth and autonomy for all
nations and addresses socioeconomic challenges related
to public health, education, renewable energy, digital
connectivity, and more;
(C) supports regional efforts to address the
challenges posed by climate change, including by
strengthening resilience to natural disasters and
through responsible stewardship of natural resources;
(D) improves civil society, strengthens democratic
governance and the rule of law, and promotes human
rights and the preservation of the region's unique
cultural heritages;
(E) assists the Pacific Islands in preventing and
containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and in
pursuing long-term economic recovery; and
(F) supports existing regional architecture and
international norms;
(2) to support the vision, values, and objectives of
existing regional multilateral institutions and frameworks,
such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community,
including--
(A) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Regionalism;
(B) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security;
and
(C) the Boe Declaration Action Plan;
(3) to extend and renew the provisions of the Compacts of
Free Association and related United States law that will expire
in 2023 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the
Federated States of Micronesia and in 2024 for the Republic of
Palau unless they are extended and renewed; and
(4) to work closely with United States allies and partners
with existing relationships and interests in the Pacific
Islands, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan,
in advancing common goals.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as
otherwise provided, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate.
(2) Pacific islands.--The terms ``Pacific Islands'' means
the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of
Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, the Republic
of Palau, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the
Independent State of Samoa, the Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of
Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Vanuatu.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS; FORM OF REPORTS.
(a) Authority to Consolidate Reports.--Any reports required to be
submitted to the appropriate congressional committees under this Act
that are subject to deadlines for submission consisting of the same
units of time may be consolidated into a single report that is
submitted to appropriate congressional committees pursuant to such
deadlines and that contains all information required under such
reports.
(b) Form of Reports.--Each report required by this Act shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
TITLE I--UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT AND COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME
SEC. 101. DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands
necessitates an examination of whether United States
diplomatic, economic, and development engagement and presence
in the Pacific Islands region is sufficient to effectively
support United States objectives and meaningful participation
in regional fora;
(2) improving shared understanding of and jointly
combatting the transnational challenges pertinent to the
Pacific Islands region with countries of the Pacific Islands
and regional partners such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan,
and Taiwan is vitally important to our shared long-term
interests of stability, security, and prosperity;
(3) the United States should seek to participate in and
support efforts to coordinate a regional response toward
maritime security, including through continued United States
and Pacific Islands participation in the Pacific Fusion Centre
in Vanuatu and Information Fusion Centre in Singapore, and
robust cooperation with regional allies; and
(4) the United States Government should commit to sending
appropriate levels of representation to regional events.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years,
the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of
Commerce and the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on the diplomatic and
development presence of the United States in the Pacific
Islands.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A description of the Department of State,
United States Agency for International Development,
United States International Development Finance
Corporation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and
United States Commercial Service presence, staffing,
programming, and resourcing of operations in the
Pacific Islands, including programming and resourcing
not specifically allocated to the Pacific Islands.
(B) A description of gaps in such presence,
including unfilled full-time equivalent positions.
(C) A description of limitations and challenges
such gaps pose to United States strategic objectives,
including--
(i) gaps in support of the Pacific Islands
due to operations being conducted from the
United States Agency for International
Development offices in Manila and Suva; and
(ii) gaps in programming and resourcing.
(D) A strategy to expand and elevate such presence
to fill such gaps, including by establishing new
missions, expanding participation in regional forums,
and elevating United States representation in regional
forums.
(c) Authority To Enhance Diplomatic and Economic Engagement.--The
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce are authorized to hire
locally employed staff in the Pacific Islands for the purpose of
promoting increased diplomatic engagement and economic and commercial
engagement between the United States and the Pacific Islands.
(d) Regional Development Cooperation Strategy.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years
thereafter, the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a regional development cooperation strategy for the Pacific
Islands.
SEC. 102. INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY FOR THE PACIFIC
ISLANDS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall develop and implement
a plan to expand coverage of the International Law Enforcement
Academies (ILEA) program for the Pacific Islands, including by--
(1) expanding coverage of the regional program located in
Bangkok, Thailand to the Pacific Islands; or
(2) establishing a new regional program for the Pacific
Islands.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The plan required by subsection (a)
shall include consultation and coordination with existing regional law
enforcement entities, including the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police
and civil society, including those focused on human rights and
specializing in victim-centered approaches, and take into consideration
costs of implementation, effectiveness, and capacity of the Pacific
Islands to participate in the ILEA program.
(c) Briefing Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide the appropriate
congressional committees a briefing on the plan developed under this
section.
SEC. 103. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Strategy.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of Defense and in coordination
with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall develop and
implement a comprehensive strategy to provide assistance to and
build the capacity of local civilian and national security
institutions of the Pacific Islands for purposes of--
(A) enhancing maritime security and maritime domain
awareness to address challenges such as illegal,
unreported, and unregulated fishing;
(B) assisting local law enforcement in detecting,
preventing, and combating human and drug trafficking
and other forms of transnational crime;
(C) providing essential services to civilian
populations and responding to humanitarian challenges
caused by natural disasters;
(D) participating in efforts by regional
institutions and frameworks to coordinate and
facilitate cooperation on shared security challenges;
and
(E) expanding information sharing and to work
toward operational coordination and interoperability
among Pacific Island maritime security forces,
including through regional fusion centers.
(2) Programs and authorities described.--The strategy
required by this subsection shall build on but not be limited
to the following programs and authorities:
(A) The International Military Education and
Training program.
(B) The Foreign Military Financing program.
(C) The Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic
Aid program.
(D) The authority to build the capacity of foreign
security forces under section 333 of title 10, United
States Code.
(E) The authority to provide excess defense
articles under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j).
(F) The National Guard State Partnership Program.
(3) National police forces and coast guards.--The national
police forces and coast guards of the Pacific Islands are
eligible to receive assistance under the programs and
authorities described in paragraph (2) (other than the programs
and authorities described in subparagraphs (A), (D), and (F) of
paragraph (2)) for purposes of the strategy required by this
subsection.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The strategy required by subsection
(a) shall seek to preserve peace and regional stability in the Pacific
Islands and take into consideration and seek to build upon but not
duplicate existing assistance provided by United States allies and
partners.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the
strategy developed under this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of security challenges to the
Pacific Islands;
(B) an analysis of demonstrated needs of the
Pacific Islands for assistance, including excess
defense equipment and related materials with
humanitarian and development uses to fulfill such
needs;
(C) a review of existing security assistance
programs in the Pacific Islands, including programs and
efforts provided by United States allies and partners;
(D) a plan for programs for training and
sustainment with respect to such excess defense
equipment and related materials, including those with
humanitarian and development uses;
(E) a list of militaries, national police forces,
coast guards, and other national security forces of the
Pacific Islands receiving assistance under the
strategy;
(F) a plan to provide humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief, if necessary, through the Overseas
Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid program;
(G) a review of existing cross-border maritime law
enforcement operations (commonly known as ``shiprider
agreements'') with the Pacific Islands, an assessment
of additional resourcing needs to enhance operational
capacity, and a plan to improve on these programs and
operations;
(H) a review of existing National Guard State
Partnership Programs with the Pacific Islands, an
assessment of additional opportunities to leverage
National Guard State Partnership Programs to address
law enforcement, disaster relief and emergency
management, and related priorities, and a plan to
expand, as appropriate, existing and new National Guard
State Partnership Programs in the region;
(I) a review of current efforts and progress in
removing unexploded ordnance in the Pacific Islands and
an assessment of additional resourcing needed to ensure
continued progress, including to support coordination
with regional efforts and those of United States allies
and partners;
(J) a review of existing regional fusion centers
and other cooperative intelligence sharing efforts in
the Pacific Islands to address maritime security,
transnational crime, natural disasters, and other
security challenges and an assessment of opportunities
for the United States to participate in such efforts,
including by allocating staff and supplying resourcing;
(K) measures to evaluate success for the strategy;
and
(L) a detailed assessment of appropriations
required to achieve the objectives for the strategy in
future years.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on Armed Services, and the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
SEC. 104. COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME.
(a) Ratification of International Legal Instruments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall prioritize
efforts to assist the Pacific Islands in ratifying and
implementing international legal conventions related to
transnational crime, such as--
(A) the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora;
(B) the Agreement on Port State Measures; and
(C) relevant protocols supplementing the United
Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized
Crime, such as--
(i) the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and
Punish Trafficking in Person, Especially Women
and Children; and
(ii) the Protocol Against the Smuggling of
Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air.
(2) Biennial report.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter
as appropriate, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on--
(A) the status of the progress of each country of
the Pacific Islands toward ratifying and implementing
international legal conventions related to
transnational crime; and
(B) United States plans for assisting those
countries that have yet to fully ratify such
conventions with their respective ratification efforts.
(b) Updates of Certain Reports.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall identify
and update existing reports to include forms of transnational crime
affecting the Pacific Islands, such as--
(1) the International Narcotics Control Strategy report;
(2) the Improving International Fisheries Management
report; and
(3) the Trafficking in Persons report.
(c) Illegal Logging and Associated Trade.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of relevant
Federal agencies, shall submit to appropriate congressional
committees a report that identifies countries of the Pacific
Islands that are countries of concern with respect to illegal
logging and associated trade.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) A description of the impact illegal logging and
associated trade have had on local communities, good
governance, and biodiversity, including an
identification of those foreign countries that may be
financing or in any other manner supporting illegal
logging activities.
(B) A description of efforts taken by countries
identified under paragraph (1) to comply and take
appropriate corrective action to mitigate illegal
logging, and an evaluation of the progress of those
efforts.
(C) A description of steps taken by the heads of
relevant Federal agencies to assist the Pacific Islands
in adopting and implementing international measures
comparable to those of the United States, such as the
Lacey Act, to reduce impacts of illicit logging.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Finance of the Senate.
(d) Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing.--Section 3553 of
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (16 U.S.C.
8033) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (7) (as amended) the
following:
``(8) an assessment of gaps or limitations in the ability
of the United States to effectively assist priority regions and
priority flag states relating to IUU fishing due to resource
constraints and the additional resources necessary to overcome
those constraints; and''.
SEC. 105. COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL ALLIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall consult and
coordinate with regional allies and partners, including Australia,
Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and regional institutions such as the
Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community, with respect to
programs to provide assistance to the Pacific Islands, including
programs established by this Act, including for purposes of--
(1) deconflicting programming;
(2) ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect
the absorptive capacity of the Pacific Islands; and
(3) ensuring complementary programs benefit the Pacific
Islands to the maximum extent practicable.
(b) Formal Consultative Process.--The Secretary of State shall
establish a formal consultative process with such regional allies and
partners to coordinate with respect to such programs and future-years
programming.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that
includes--
(1) a review of ongoing efforts, initiatives, and programs
undertaken by regional allies and partners, including
multilateral organizations, to advance priorities identified in
this Act;
(2) a review of ongoing efforts, initiatives, and programs
undertaken by non-allied foreign actors that are viewed as
being potentially harmful or in any way detrimental to one or
more countries of the Pacific Islands;
(3) an assessment of United States programs in the Pacific
Islands and their alignment and complementarity with the
efforts of regional allies and partners identified in paragraph
(1); and
(4) a review of the formal consultative process required in
subsection (b) to summarize engagements held and identify
opportunities to improve coordination with regional allies and
partners.
TITLE II--DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES
SEC. 201. TRADE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States should expand bilateral and multilateral trade with the Pacific
Islands to promote socio-economic development and mutual prosperity.
(b) Strategy.--The United States Trade Representative shall develop
and implement a strategy to expand and diversify trade and promote
regional development with the Pacific Islands, including through
negotiating trade and investment framework agreements.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Trade
Representative shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that contains the strategy developed under
this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of the readiness of countries in
the Pacific Islands to enter into enhanced trade
relationships with the United States, including with
respect to reducing or eliminating tariff and non-
tariff barriers inhibiting progress towards deepening
trade relationships;
(B) a review of existing regional multilateral and
bilateral trade agreements and preference programs
involving the Pacific Islands and their impacts on
regional trade and development; and
(C) an identification of opportunities to work with
existing regional frameworks to increase trade and
economic integration with the Pacific Islands.
(d) Briefing Required on Pacific Islands Trade Preferences.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the United States Trade
Representative shall provide to the appropriate congressional
committees a briefing on the use of the Generalized System of
Preferences under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2461 et seq.) by the Pacific Islands.
(2) Matters to be included.--The briefing required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a review of the usage of the Generalized System
of Preferences by the Pacific Islands over the past 20
years, including the value and types of goods traded
under the program;
(B) an analysis of United States trade with the
Pacific Islands covered under the Generalized System of
Preferences compared to trade with the Pacific Islands
not conducted under any trade preference program;
(C) an assessment of why the Pacific Islands
underutilizes the Generalized System of Preferences in
trade with the United States; and
(D) recommendations for how the United States
Government can further assist the Pacific Islands in
utilizing the Generalized System of Preferences.
(3) Update.--The Trade Representative shall provide to the
appropriate congressional committees an updated briefing under
this subsection not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
SEC. 202. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State,
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chief
Executive Officer of the United States International Development
Finance Corporation, shall develop and implement a trade capacity
building initiative for the Pacific Islands.
(b) Elements and Conduct of Initiative.--The initiative developed
under this section shall--
(1) include an initial, public assessment of--
(A) economic opportunities for which United States
businesses, or those of other like-minded partners,
would be competitive; and
(B) legal, economic, governance, infrastructural,
or other hurdles limiting United States investment in
the Pacific Islands;
(2) develop human and institutional capacity and
infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies, including
digital connectivity and cybersecurity;
(3) assist with development and implementation of regional
and international trade agreements, including the World Trade
Organization's Agreement on Trade Facilitation and facilitation
of intra-regional trade flows;
(4) support women-owned enterprises and gender equality;
and
(5) promote government policies that encourage free and
fair competition, sound governance, environmental protection,
and business environments conducive to sustainable and
inclusive economic growth.
(c) U.S. Commercial Service Presence.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall expand the presence of the U.S. Commercial Service in the Pacific
Islands and allocate additional Foreign Commercial Service Officers to
the Pacific Islands, including by elevating existing partner posts and
establishing new Commercial Service posts and partner posts, to--
(1) explore opportunities for United States private sector
investment;
(2) examine regulations in host countries in the Pacific
Islands that may hinder foreign direct investment, including
those related to human rights, labor rights, and environmental
protection, and provide technical assistance when requested by
such host countries; and
(3) report on the commercial and investment activities of
non-allied foreign actors in the Pacific Islands.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 203. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall develop and implement an initiative to
assist the Pacific Islands in enhancing their preparedness for and
resilience to natural disasters and other emergencies.
(b) Conduct of Program.--The program developed under this section
shall include--
(1) education and training programs on natural disaster
prevention and preparedness for emergency management
professionals in the Pacific Islands, including by leveraging
the expertise of nonprofit organizations and institutions of
higher education in the United States;
(2) technical assistance, including through grants and
cooperative agreements for qualified United States and local
nongovernmental organizations, to enhance early warning
systems, emergency management and preparedness procedures, and
post-disaster relief and recovery; and
(3) coordination of existing disaster mitigation and
response plans in the region, including by United States allies
and partners in the region.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the
program developed under this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of disaster risks in the Pacific
Islands and existing local and regional capacity to
respond to such risks;
(B) a review of existing efforts by United States
allies and partners to provide assistance and training
for natural disaster preparedness and emergency
management; and
(C) objectives, means of implementation, and
measures of success for the initiative.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 204. PEACE CORPS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands
should be expanded and the Peace Corps should reopen its
programs in as many of the Pacific Islands as possible,
including where it has previously operated but has suspended
operations;
(2) consulting like-minded regional allies and partners,
such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan is crucial
for identifying and overcoming challenges for increased Peace
Corps presence in the Pacific Islands;
(3) the Peace Corps, whose mission is to promote world
peace and friendship in part by helping the people of
interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and
women, provides an invaluable opportunity to connect the
American people with the people of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic
of Palau; and
(4) the Peace Corps should promptly reopen its programs in
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of
Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
(1) a comparative analysis of the Peace Corps presence in
the Pacific Islands region to other regions of the world,
including a cost-benefit analysis of placement in the region
versus elsewhere globally;
(2) analysis of current impediments to Peace Corps
expansion in the Pacific Islands region;
(3) outcomes of consultations among United States agencies,
and with regional allies and partners, on areas in which
cooperation can reduce factors limiting Peace Corps expansion,
particularly those related to medical transportation and
personal safety; and
(4) a plan and timeline for implementing outcomes
identified in paragraph (3) to facilitate expansion of Peace
Corps presence in the region, where appropriate.
SEC. 205. PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State,
shall develop and implement a strategy to assist the Pacific Islands in
improving public health outcomes and building public health capacity,
including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Conduct of Strategy.--The strategy developed under this section
shall include--
(1) programming, including grants, cooperative agreements,
and other forms of assistance as the Administrator determines
appropriate, to assist in building local capacity to address--
(A) maternal and child health;
(B) family planning and reproductive health;
(C) gender-based violence;
(D) food security and nutrition;
(E) non-communicable diseases;
(F) communicable diseases, including neglected
tropical diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, sexually-
transmitted infections, and zoonotic and emerging
infectious disease threats;
(G) equitable access to quality, essential, and
affordable health services and quality-assured, safe,
effective medical products and their appropriate use;
and
(H) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH);
(2) technical assistance to strengthen local health system
capacity and resilience in the areas of good leadership and
governance, sustainable financing, interoperable information
systems and high quality data for decision making, efficient
medical products and supply chain systems, and management of
human resources for health, with special attention to
increasing health worker performance, retention, productivity,
number, skill mix, and competency, including through exploring
opportunities such as private sector engagement and digital
health integration and access; and
(3) coordination with existing local and regional health
sector goals, efforts, institutions, and frameworks.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains
the strategy developed under this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include an identification of--
(A) health care challenges, including health
systems strengthening, immunization, non-communicable
diseases, and gender-based violence, in the Pacific
Islands;
(B) public health challenges and needs related to
the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific Islands; and
(C) objectives, means of implementation, and
measures of success for the strategy.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 206. EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) promoting basic education in the Pacific Islands,
particularly in traditionally under-served communities,
advances United States foreign policy goals and requires a
whole of government approach, and the United States Government
currently dedicates insufficient resources and attention to
assisting with education needs in the region;
(2) the Peace Corps alone is insufficient to achieve United
States objectives of promoting sustainable, quality basic
education; and
(3) countries of the Pacific Islands meet the requirements
outlined in subsection (c)(4) of section 105 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c).
(b) Education Assistance.--The President is authorized to provide
assistance under section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2151c) to promote sustainable, quality basic education in the
Pacific Islands, including for the following purposes:
(1) Supporting national nutrition and health programs.
(2) Working with partner governments to reform policies,
improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train teachers, and
provide quality learning materials.
(3) Building new schools and renovating older facilities to
ensure safe places for learning.
(4) Providing individuals, particularly at-risk youth, with
relevant education, training, and skills for meaningful
employment.
(5) Removing barriers to entering formal education for out-
of-school individuals, assisting in keeping them in school, and
providing an opportunity to catch up on schooling for those
left behind.
(6) Promoting teaching and research exchanges between the
Pacific Islands and United States institutions of higher
education.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 207. CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should leverage the full
range of authorities and programs available to assist the
Pacific Islands in achieving their development goals;
(2) United States development assistance should seek to
build on existing public and private sector investments while
creating new opportunities toward a favorable environment for
additional such investments; and
(3) United States development efforts should be coordinated
with and seek to build on existing efforts by like-minded
partners and allies and regional and international multilateral
organizations.
(b) Strategy.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive
Officer of the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, shall develop and implement a strategy to--
(1) invest in and improve critical infrastructure,
including transport connectivity, information and
communications technology, food security, coastal zone
management, marine and water resource management, and energy
security and access to electricity in the Pacific Islands, with
an emphasis on climate resiliency and sustainable development;
(2) provide technical assistance to assist local government
and civil society leaders assess risks to local infrastructure,
especially those posed by climate change, consider and
implement risk mitigation efforts and policies to strengthen
resilience, and evaluate proposed projects and solutions for
their efficacy and sustainability; and
(3) support investment and improvement in ecosystem
conservation and protection for the long-term sustainable use
of ecosystem services, especially those that mitigate effects
of climate change and those that support food security and
livelihoods.
(c) Conduct of Strategy.--The strategy developed under this section
shall be coordinated with like-minded partners and allies, regional and
international multilateral organizations, and regional frameworks for
development in the Pacific Islands.
(d) International Financial Institutions.--The Secretary of the
Treasury shall direct the representatives of the United States to the
World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian
Development Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to
support climate resilient infrastructure projects in the Pacific
Islands.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on foreign infrastructure developments in
the Pacific Islands.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a review of foreign infrastructure developments
in the Pacific Islands by non-United States allies and
partners;
(B) assessments of the environmental impact and
sustainability of such developments; and
(C) an analysis of the financial sustainability of
such developments and their impacts on the debt of host
countries in the Pacific Islands.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 208. COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND COOPERATION AND
PARTICIPATION OF NONGOVERNMENTAL UNITED STATES ENTITIES.
The Federal officials responsible for carrying out sections 202,
203, 205, 206, and 207, shall, in carrying out such sections--
(1) coordinate with existing programs and efforts of
relevant agencies of the United States Government, especially
with regards to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the
Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau; and
(2) seek the cooperation and participation of United States
private sector, United States nongovernmental organizations,
and United States institutions of higher education.
TITLE III--PROMOTION OF SHARED VALUES
SEC. 301. PRESS FREEDOM IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that residents of the Pacific Islands
speak 24 official languages and thousands of indigenous or unofficial
local languages
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should work with allies and partners,
particularly Australia and New Zealand, to provide free or low-
cost access to national news wires so the Pacific Islands have
greater access to raw news feeds; and
(2) it is in the interest of the United States to work with
the Pacific Islands to develop regulations to address the
licensing and operations of foreign media to build resilience
in the media sector to unsanctioned external influence or
interference while respecting free expression and cultivating
diverse media voices.
(c) Press Freedom Assistance.--The President is authorized to
provide assistance to promote the dissemination of free and accurate
information in the Pacific Islands, including for the following
purposes:
(1) Media capacity building and education, including to--
(A) provide on-site media training tailored to
local needs;
(B) collaborate with local government and
nongovernmental entities to promote media literacy and
integrate media literacy into primary education
curricula in local languages and dialects to ensure
accessibility; and
(C) routinize funding for professional programs,
such as the Pacific Islands Journalism Reporting Tour,
that bring media professionals from the Pacific Islands
to the United States.
(2) Strengthening and diversifying broadcast content
tailored to local audiences, including content broadcast in the
local vernacular.
(3) Investing in connectivity infrastructure with an
emphasis on broadcast radio and transmission.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the
implementation of this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of--
(i) the national laws of the Pacific
Islands with respect to foreign investment in
media and related sectors;
(ii) relevant licensing regulations of the
Pacific Islands; and
(iii) governmental restrictions on free
expression that limit the availability of
diverse media voices in the Pacific Islands;
and
(B) analyses of covert efforts by foreign media
actors in the Pacific Islands--
(i) to influence, shape, or circumvent
regulations in the media or telecommunication
sectors; and
(ii) to co-opt local media and narratives.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 302. U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA.
(a) In General.--The Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Agency for
Global Media shall develop and implement a plan to provide expanded
media content to the Pacific Islands and partner with journalists in
the Pacific Islands.
(b) Briefing Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer shall
provide the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on
the plan developed under this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The briefing required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of facilities and costs to expand
coverage to the Pacific Islands, including options to
utilize Voice of America affiliates;
(B) an identification of objectives, means of
implementation, and measures of success for the plan;
and
(C) an assessment on the scope and impact of media
training efforts and people-to-people engagements
organized by other countries for the Pacific Islands.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 303. GENDER EQUALITY.
(a) Statement of Policy.--Congress affirms the importance of gender
equality and women's empowerment to United States policy in the Pacific
Islands and recognizes the work of the existing regional frameworks and
platforms on gender equality.
(b) In General.--The Secretary of State and the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development shall--
(1) develop and implement an initiative to encourage and
support efforts by the Pacific Islands to reduce and combat
gender-based violence, in coordination with existing efforts by
United States allies and partners as well as regional
organizations; and
(2) promote gender equality in political, economic, social,
and cultural development programs in the Pacific Islands.
SEC. 304. PACIFIC ISLANDS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that routinized
people-to-people exchange programs to bring Pacific Islands religious
leaders, journalists, civil society members, politicians, and others to
the United States strengthens existing relationships and advances
United States interests and shared values in the region.
(b) In General.--The Secretary of State shall develop and implement
a program to promote educational and professional development for young
adult leaders and professionals in the Pacific Islands with a
demonstrated passion to contribute to the continued development of the
Pacific Islands.
(c) Conduct of Program.--The program developed under this section
shall be implemented on a routine basis and may be carried out
through--
(1) grants provided on a competitive basis to qualified
organizations with demonstrated expertise relating to the
Pacific Islands;
(2) grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 provided on a
competitive basis to qualified young leaders from the Pacific
Islands for the purpose of carrying out projects dedicated to
the improvement of their communities in the Pacific Islands;
(3) regional workshops and professional and academic
fellowships; and
(4) people-to-people exchanges.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting
through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and
Cultural Affairs, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report on exchange programs for the Pacific
Islands region.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include--
(A) an assessment of factors constraining the
number and frequency of International Visitor
Leadership Program participants from countries of the
Pacific Islands;
(B) an identification of resources that are
necessary to address the factors described in
subparagraph (A); and
(C) a strategy for connecting alumni and
participants of the Department of State's professional
development exchange programs in East Asia, such as the
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and
the Young Pacific Leaders programs, to enhance inter
and intra region people-to-people ties.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
SEC. 305. CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall develop and implement a program to
promote the development of civil society in the Pacific Islands for the
purpose of--
(1) strengthening independent media and press freedom;
(2) empowering citizens to freely organize and communicate,
including through existing and new civic spaces;
(3) strengthening rule of law and increasing government
accountability; and
(4) promoting democratic political culture.
(b) Conduct of Program.--
(1) In general.--The program developed under this section
shall be carried out in consultation with local civil society
groups in the Pacific Islands, including civil society groups
that represent or work with traditionally marginalized groups.
(2) Elements.--The program developed under this section may
be carried out through--
(A) technical assistance and support, including
through training and professional and academic
fellowships;
(B) grants provided on a competitive basis to
qualified civil society organizations for the purpose
of carrying out projects and programs dedicated to the
objectives identified in subsection (a); and
(C) grants provided on a competitive basis to
qualified United States organizations with demonstrated
expertise in civil society development and the Pacific
Islands.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the program
developed under this section.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) an assessment of the strength and viability of
civil society sectors of the Pacific Islands, including
legal, organizational capacity, financial, advocacy,
services, infrastructure, and public image sectors; and
(B) an identification of objectives and measures of
success for the program.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026
to carry out this section.
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